How Nostalgia is Shaping Pop Culture Right Now

Nostalgia is that friend who always shows up to the party uninvited, and yet we can’t help but love it. For the past few years, we’ve seen it creep into every corner of pop culture. In particular, '90s and early 2000s styles are back, and let me tell you—it's not just the flip phones making a comeback. A pink motorola razr? Sign me up! From music and fashion to media, those eras are everywhere right now, like that favorite ex who mysteriously reappears, looking better than ever. Here’s how nostalgia is influencing our world in 2024.

If you’ve been listening to music lately, you’ll notice a trend. Artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Machine Gun Kelly, and YUNGBLUD are channeling that early 2000s pop-punk sound we all remember so fondly (even if it means wearing fingerless gloves and exuding uncalled for angst). There’s something about those crunchy guitars and sassy lyrics that take us right back to high school, where the biggest drama was whether or not you could make it to Hot Topic before closing.

Pop-punk is back, and it’s not just a phase, Mom! Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts album? Hello, Sk8er Boi vibes. Plus, let’s not forget the revival of emo in mainstream music. It’s like all of a sudden, everyone in pop music realized they should’ve gotten into My Chemical Romance back in 2005, and now we’re getting the soundtrack to our teen angst all over again.

If you’ve seen a TikTok recently, you've probably noticed the return of low-rise jeans. Yes, you read that right. The same jeans that haunted our childhoods and required you to do crunches just to fit into them are now back in full force. This time, we’re pairing them with bedazzled crop tops and butterfly clips—basically looking like the Lizzie McGuire movie threw up all over us.

But it’s not just low-rise jeans. Think chunky sneakers, cargo pants, and tons of sparkly accessories. Y2K fashion has infiltrated the runway, and now we're all buying mini bags and velour tracksuits in hopes of channeling our inner Paris Hilton. Even Kendall Jenner's been rocking the early 2000s looks lately.

Speaking of Paris Hilton, reality TV has somehow managed to revive itself—again. We’re seeing remakes of shows like The Osbournes, The Simple Life, and Cribs. And let’s not forget the return of The Bachelor franchise, which feels like the ultimate throwback to a time when we all pretended to care about someone’s love life as they went on dates in a mansion.

Meanwhile, streaming platforms have been digging deep into '90s and early 2000s nostalgia. Shows like Friends, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Full House are being rebooted or getting spin-offs. Who knew that all these years later, we’d still be tuning in to see what’s happening with Joey Tribbiani or Uncle Phil’s mansion?

Nostalgia’s influence has even made its way into social media. Apps like Instagram and TikTok are full of filters that turn you into a living, breathing version of your favorite '90s or early 2000s celebrity. Remember when we all wanted to look like Britney Spears or *NSYNC? Well, now we can.

Social media platforms have become the ultimate throwback machine. From #ThrowbackThursday to the “Which 90s Teen Heartthrob Are You?” quizzes, we are constantly reminded of how much we loved and hated the pop culture we grew up with. And now, we can look like a TRL contestant without the questionable frosted tips.

Let’s talk about language. Remember when we thought it was cool to say “word” or “that’s hot” (thanks, Paris)? Well, it's back—kind of. Newer generations are borrowing phrases like “bet,” “no cap,” and “slay,” which are giving off some serious 2000s nostalgia vibes. It’s like we never left the mid-aughts and now, “on fleek” is coming back like a boomerang.

Nostalgia is everywhere, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Whether we’re rocking low-rise jeans or singing along to pop-punk anthems, it’s clear that '90s and early 2000s pop culture is shaping the way we consume media and express ourselves in 2024. So, grab your sidekick, throw on some chunky sneakers, and try not to spill your “Y2K-inspired” coffee while you catch up on Friends reruns. Because as much as we love to hate it, nostalgia always finds a way to keep us hooked.

The 27 Club is equal parts tragic and fascinating. The term, of course, stems from the unique coincidence of many high-profile entertainers dying at the age of 27.

According to Rolling Stone, the term's popularity skyrocketed after the untimely death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. His mother, Wendy O'Connor, even mentioned it following his death.

In a 1994 archival story from The Seattle Times, O'Connor said of her late son, "Now he's gone and joined that stupid club. I told him not to join that stupid club."

However, there were plenty of major names in the rock world who were members of this "club" long before Cobain died in 1994. This club and its members are explored in Howard Sounes's 2021 book 27: A History of the 27 Club Through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse. The book's synopsis reads, "In a grimly fascinating journey through the dark side of the music business over six decades, Sounes uncovers a common story of excess, madness, and self-destruction ... A clear and compelling narrative emerges, one based on hard facts, that unites these lost souls in both life and death."

Indeed, the members of the 27 Club are lost souls and unique talents gone far too soon. Despite this, they left legacies that have lasted for decades and will likely continue to do so. Yes, they will live on thanks to their art and impact on pop culture, but they'll also be cautionary tales, which, frankly, isn't a bad thing either. A life ending that young is simply devastating, and if it can be avoided, it should.

In the gallery below, we look at five of the club's most iconic members arranged in the order in which they officially joined the club.